SAN JOSE -- A survey of more than 230 electronics supply chain decision-makers suggests the bottom of the market has not yet been reached.

Survey questions focusing on indicators of respondent satisfaction or emphasis were posed with a scoring basis of 1 to 10 (1 = very negative experience or expectations and 10 = very positive experience or expectations).

Electronics OEMs responded with an average of 4.6 when asked how they saw business conditions for their business over the next six months. Respondents that identified themselves as with EMS or ODM companies were generally more optimistic at 5.4.

Respondents from semiconductor, distribution and logistics, and components manufacturing firms were more pessimistic, giving average scores of 4.2, 4.0, and 3.4, respectively.

The survey was conducted between March 20 and April 25, 2009.

Some 82% of survey respondents said they participate in their company's decision-making at some level, with 45% as the ‘key decision maker’ for their organization.

The survey "is revealing and confirms what we’re seeing”, said Paul Singh, CEO of Suntron Corp., in a press release. “Economic conditions are impacting the industry as a whole, but quality-focused companies not burdened by a lot of debt and with good cash flow should emerge okay once economic conditions improve."

The survey was compiled and published by Venture Outsource and Digi-Key. Results are available here.

“Our findings don’t indicate a full recovery in the electronics sector is underway just yet but the results do provide some helpful information indicating where we are right now in this downturn,” said Mark Zetter, president and founder of Venture Outsource.